Slicing machine



Patented Aug. 22, 1933 SLKCING RIACHINE Jetze van Hoorn, Veorburg, Netherlands, assignor to U. S; Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, Ind, a Jorporation of Indiana Appiication February 13, 1929, Serial No. 339,539, and in Great Britain February 14, 1928 Claims.

The present invention relates to slicing machines and has for one of its objects the provi sion of a device for transferring the slices as they are cut from the material on thereciprocating carriage to a support or receiver upon which the slices are stacked for wrapping or for any other desired purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide in such a transferring device a suction operated means for holding the slices thereon.

Another object of the invention is to release these slices when the transferring means has positioned the slices over the support or receiver.

Another object is to provide a transferring device adapted to be used'in the conventional type of slicing machine, wherein a reciprocating carriage carries the material to be sliced past a slicing knife without modifying to any great extent, the construction of the slicing machine.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device embodying my invention with parts thereof broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof showing various details in section for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the transferring means showing the construction of the vacuum chamber; and

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

In devices of this nature, it is important that the slices which are cut by the knife be deposited upon a receiver so that they lie flush and are not wrinkled as they would ordinarily be if no means were provided to prevent this. The present invention accomplishes this object by the use of a transferring device having a suction chamber and openings provided between the suction chamber and the surface adapted to receive the slices. This transferring device moves so that its surface is in close proximity to the cutting edge of the knife, the more readily to receive and hold the slices. The vacuum created in the suction chamber tends to hold the slices on the transferring means until the slices are over the receiver, at which time'the vacuum is released and the slices fall on the receiver, due partly to gravity and partly to the centrifugal force exerted by the rotation of the transferring means.

More particularly, the machine comprises a base 1 having a carriage 2 provided with bearings 3 adapted to slide on rods 1 supported by means of upstanding brackets 5 on the base 1. The carriage 2 carries a cross-slide 6 which supports the material to be sliced and carries it in a well-known manner toward the slicing knife in a step by step movement after each slice has been cut, so as to present a new portion of the material to the slicing knife. The cross-slide 6 has upstanding brackets 8 carrying the clamping member for the material and this clamping member comprises the bearings 11 and 1t) slidable on the brackets 8 and pivotally connected to the clamping bar 9, the handle 12 on the member 16 being used as a means to exert pressure on the clamping bar. A shaft 13 is rotatably mounted in hearings in the base member 1 and has a flywheel 14 rotatable by the handle 15 mounted on one end thereof. A bevel gear 15 is fixed to the other end of the shaft 13 and meshes with a bevel gear 16 adapted to rotate the crank 17. The'crank 17 is connected to the reciprocating carriage 2 at 19 by means of a pitman 18. Therefore, it will be seen that as the handle 15 is used to rotate the flywheel 14, the carriage 2 is reciprocated through the connections 13, i5, 16, 1'7, 18, and

19 to carry the carriage back and forth across the face of the knife 22 which is rotated from the gear 15' by means of a gear 20 on shaft 21 and connections, not shown, between the shaft 21 and the spindle 23 of the knife 22.

Thespindle 23 is mounted in the bracket 24 fixed to the base member 1. As the slices are cut from the material 7, they are picked up by the transferring means 25, to be described later, and deposited upon a receiver 26'carried by a bracket 2'7 supported at one end by means of a portion of the bracket 24 and at the other end by means of a bolt 28 which clamps the bracket to the base 1.

A foot-step bearing A has bearing members 30 and 31 connected by means of a U-shaped portion A adapted to straddle the gear 53. The bearings 30 and 31 rotatably support a spindle 2? which carries the transferring device 25 so that rotation of the spindle 29 will rotate the transferring device therewith.

The transferring device 25 is composed chiefly of an outer wall 32 and an inner wall 33 spaced from each other to form a vacuum chamber B, and, near the outer edges along three sides thereof, are held together, by means of screws.34. Both the members 32 and 33 are in the form of sections of two substantially concentric cones. A member 35 is interposed between the members 32 and 33 adjacent the smaller ends of the conical members and completes the vacuum chamber B. The screws 36 hold the member 35 to the member 32 and the screws 3'7 hold the member 33 to the member 35. It will be understood that the meeting surfaces of the members 33, 32 and 35 may have any wellknown type of packing means therebetween to prevent the entrance of air into the vacuum chamber B.

The outer member 32 is provided with openings 38 forming a communicating means between the chamber B and the outer surface of the member 32 so that as the slice comes into contact with the transferring device, it is held tightly against the member 32 by the suction created in the vacuum chamber B.

The member 35 has a central opening 40 with numerous smaller openings 42 communicating therewith as at 41. The other end of the openings 42 communicates with the chamber B. A portion of the opening 40 is screw-threaded to receive the screw-threaded portion of the spindle 29 and a collar 40 on the spindle 29 abuts against the member 35 when the screwthreads 39 have been screwed into the opening 40.

The spindle 29 is hollow as at 43 for substantially its entire length and has an opening 44 at its lower end communicating with a peripheral groove 45 on the inside of the bearing 31 during a portion of its rotating movement and with an opening 50 during another portion of its rotating movement as will be fully described later. The groove 45 has an outlet 45' into which is screw-threaded a member 47 adapted to be connected with the tubular member 48 by means of a coupling member 49. It will be seen therefore that whenever the opening 44 is in a position to be in communication with the groove 45, a suction will be created throughout the hollow spindle 43 and the vacuum chamber B and this groove 45 is so located that the opening 44 will always be in communication therewith from the time the transferring device receives the slices until it is ready to deposit the slices upon the receiver 26.

At this time it is desired to release the slices. This is accomplished by means of the opening 50 leading into the atmosphere which comes into communication with the opening 44 upon a slight rotation of the spindle 29 after the slice is positioned above the receiver. This permits the air to rush into the vacuum chamber B and allows the slice to drop upon the receiver 26 due partly to the force of gravity and partly to the effect of the centrifugal force created by the rotation of the member 25.

A packing gland 52 is screw-threaded in the bearing 31 with packing material therebetween to provide a means whereby an air-tight connection is made between the rotating spindle 29 and the bearing 31. A gear 53 is secured to the spindle 29 by means of a set screw 54 and this gear is used to oscillate the transferring device during the reciprocation of the carriage 2. A thrust bearing 55 is interposed between the hub of the gear and the packing gland 52 so as to permit the transferring means 25 to rotate more freely.

A suction pump 56 is used to create a vacuum in the tubular member 48, and, consequently, the chamber B, and has a piston rod 56 connecting with a piston in the interior of the pump 56 and this piston rod is reciprocated by means of a pitman 59 pivoted to the rod and to the crank 58, the latter being rotated by means of a gear 57 driven from the gear 15. The cranks 58 and 17 are so arranged that as the carriage begins the stroke towards the knife, the piston rod 56 will be drawn toward the left as seen in Fig. 1 since it is desired at this time to have a vacuum in the chamber B to hold the slice as it is being cut by the knife.

The slice transferring device 25 is oscillated in timed relation with the reciprocations of the carriage 2 by means of a rack 60 on the under side of the carriage 2 engaging the gear wheel 53 on the spindle 29.

A shield 61 may be mounted upon the support 2'? to protect the slices deposited on the receiver 26 from grease or oil which might be used in lubricating the moving portions of the machine.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The material '7 to be sliced is clamped upon the cross slide 6 as previously described, and moved into position so that a slice thereof may be cut therefrom as the carriage is moved past the knife 22. The handle 15 is then used-to reciprocate the carriage and rotate the knife as previously described and as the carriage begins the stroke towards the knife, a vacuum is created in the chamber B by means of the pump 56 and connections therebetween so that as the slice is cut from the material, it is deflected against the transferring device 25 and held thereon by the vacuum in the chamber B, the

opening 44 being in communication with the groove 45 at this time, but just before the carriage begins its return movement, the opening 44 comes into communication with the opening 50 so that air may enter the chamber 13 and allow the slice which is now above the support 26 to be deposited thereon. Continued rotation of the flywheel 14 brings the parts into their original position and the material is advanced towards the left to have another slice cut therefrom upon the next movement of the carriage toward the knife.

It will be noted that the slice transferring device has a portion D which is not conical as is the rest of the surface thereof. It is understood that the transferring means may be moved at a speed equal to, greater than, or less than the speed of the reciprocating carriage 2 but it is preferredthat it rotate so that the surface thereof travels at a greater speed than the carriage 2 so that the slice is pulled in such a manner as to keep wrinkles from forming therein so that when it is deposited upon the receiver, it will lie perfectly fiat.

Instead of using a pump 56, any other suitable means for forming a vacuum might be used such as a rotary pump driven by an electric motor or a source of suction may be used which is entirely independent from the construction of the machine. Or the pump might be connected to a rotary part of the machine instead of the reciprocating part.

Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and I therefore do not wish to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus fully described and shown an embodiment of my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of'the United States is:-

1. In a slicing machine, the combination with a rotatable slicing knife having its cutting plane extending in a general upward direction, of a reciprocating material supporting'table, and a slice transferring device adjacent the knife adapted to receive slices out from the material by the knife comprising a substantially conical oscillating member having'its axis of oscillation at such an angle that the portion thereof nearest the knife is in aplane substantially parallel with the plane in which the knife rotates, said. portion being rotatable into a position in a plane at a substantial angle to the cutting plane of said knife and above a slice receiving surface onto which the slices are deposited broad side down.

2. A slicing machine comprising a substance support, a slicing knife arranged in a substan tially vertical position for cutting slices from a substance mounted on said support, and a slice transfer device rotatable about an axis to move a portion of the' surface thereof from a sub-- stantially vertical plane to a substantially horizontal plane solely by its rotation about said axis, said transfer devicehaving means for receiving and holding slices thereon after they are formed and for moving said slices from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position.

3. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife arranged in a substantially vertical plane, a slice support arranged at an angle to the cutting plane of said knife, an inverted conical member arranged to rotate about an axis .at an angle to said cutting plane and said support, and means for holding slices onsaid conical member after they are cut by said knife and while the same are being transferred to said support.

4. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife arranged in a substantially vertical plane, a slice support arranged at an angle to the cutting plane of said knife, an inverted conica'i member arranged to rotate about an axis at an angle to said cutting plane and said support, means for holding slices on said conical memher after they are cut by said knife and while the same are being transferred to said support comprising suction openings communicating with the slice supporting surface of said conical member, and means for connecting said openings to a vacuum producing means.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which said vacuum producing means is operated by movements of said slicing machine.

6. A slicing machine as set forth in claim 4 in which means are provided for releasing said vacuum communicated to said openings at a time when the slices are in a position to be deposited on said support,

'7. A slicing machine comprising a slice transferring device having a portion thereof adapted to be moved from a substantially vertical plane where it receives the slices to a substantially horizontal plane at which position the slices are released therefrom, said transferring device having means thereon for holding the slices during movement from said first position to said second position and said transferring device being movably solely along a single curved path to bring said portion from said first position to said second position.

8. In a slice transferring device for transferring slices from a substantially vertic'alplane to a substantially horizontal plane, the combination of a member movable solely about a single fixed axis and having a portion of its surface movable from a substantially vertical slice receiving position to a substantially horizontal position by its movement about said axis.

9. In a slice transfer mechanism, the combinationwith a rotatable member having a slice receiving surface, of a vacuum holding means communicating with said surface, said member having a portion of its receiving surface movable from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position by rotation of said member, said vertical position being the slice receiving position.

10. In a slicing machine, the combination with a movable substance support, of a slicing knife for cutting slices from a substance on said support, a slice receiver having its receiving surface at an angle to the cutting plane of said knife, and a transfer device for transferring slices to said slice receiver comprising a member having a curved slice receiving surface which moves along a single curved path from a position substantially parallel with the cutting plane of said knife to a position substantially parallel with the slice receiving surface of said slice receiver.

11. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife and a substance support movable relatively to each other so that slices are cut from a substance while mounted on said support, of a slice receiver, a transfer mechanism comprising a member having a slice receiving surface in the shape of a portion of the surface of an inverted cone, a suction chamber on said member communicating with said cone-shaped surface, means for rotating said member to transfer slices as they are cut to said receiver, and means operable during movement of said receiver for alternately creating and releasing a vacuum in said chamber.

12. In a slicing machine, the combination with a vertically arranged slicing knife, of a horizontal substance support, a slice receiving surface arranged at an angle to the cutting plane of said knife, a bearing, a spindle rotatably mounted in said hearing so that its axis'isat an angle to said slice receiving surface and said cutting plane, an inverted substantially coneshaped member carried by said spindle androtatable therewith, a vacuum chamber in said member communicating with the slice receiving surface thereof, vacuum producing means, and valve mechanism operable upon rotation of said spindle for alternately connecting and disconnecting said vacuum chamber with said vacuum producing means.

13. In a slicing machine, the combination with a vertically arranged slicing knife, of a horizon- 1 tal substance support, a slice receiving surface arranged at an angle to the cutting plane of said knife, a bearing, a spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing so that its axis is at an angle to said slice receiving surface and said cutting plane, an inverted substantially coneshaped member carried by said spindle and rotatable therewith, a vacuum chamber in said member communicating with the slice receiving surface thereof, vacuum producing means, and 14.5

valve mechanism operable upon rotation of said spindle for alternately connecting and disconnesting said vacuum chamber With said vacuum producing means, said valve mechanism comprising a port through said spindle communieating with said chamber and a port in said bearing communicating with said vacuum producing means, said ports being brought into registration during only a portion of the rotative movement of said member.

14. A device as set forth in claim 13 in which a second port is provided in said bearing for communicating with said port in said spindle when the port in said spindle is out of communication With the first mentioned port in said bearing, said second mentioned port in said bearing also communicating with the atmosphere.

15. In a slicing machine, the combination with a reciprocating table of a vertically disposed slicing knife for cutting slices from a substance mounted on said table, a member having a substantially inverted conical slice receiving surface for receiving slices While they are in a vertical plane, means for oscillating said member during reciprocation of said table by gearing operatively connected to said table, means for holding slices on the conical surface of said member, said member having its conical surface rotatable about a single fixed axis to transfer slices from said vertical plane to a position at a substantial angle thereto, and means for releasing the slices as they are brought into said last mentioned position.

16. In a slicing machine, the combination with a reciprocating table, of a vertically disposed slicing knife for cutting slices from a substance mounted on said table, a member having a substantially inverted conical slice receiving surface for receiving slices while they are in a vertical plane, means for oscillating said member during reciprocation of said table by gearing operatively connected to said table, means for holding slices on the conical surface of said member, said member having its conical surface rotatable about a single fixed axis to transfer slices from said vertical plane to a position at a substantial angle thereto, and means for releasing the slices as they are brought into said last mentioned position, said holding means comprising a vacuum chamber having openings communicating with said conical slice receiving surface, and a vacuum producing means communicating with said chamber.

17. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife having its cutting plane at a substantial angle to the horizontal, of a substance supporting reciprocating table, a rotatable slice receiving and holding means for re moving the slices as they are cut by said knife, a rack on said table, a gear on said rotatable slice receiving and holding means meshing with said rack and adapted to be rotated by said rack as said table reciprocates, said slice receiving and holding means being substantially an inverted section of a cone, and having suction openings therein, suction producing means communicating with said suction openings to create suction in said openings sufficient to cause the slices to be held on the surface of said receiving and holding means, said receiving and holding means being rotatable about a fixed axis at a substantial angle to said cutting plane to bring the slice above a slice support at a substantial angle to the cutting plane of said knife and deposit said slice flatly upon the slice receiving surface.

18. A slice transferring device comprising a hollow rotatable slice receiving member formed substantially as a section of the surface of an cone are arranged respectively in a plane which extends generally upward and in a plane which extends generally in a horizontal direction, means for rotating said slice transferring device, and means for releasing the slices when the transferring means has been rotated to bring the slice into a substantial horizontal position above a slice receiving surface.

19. A slicing machine comprising a substance support, a slicing knife arranged in a substantially vertical position for cutting slices from a substance mounted on said support, and a slice transferrin device rotatable about an axis to move a portion of the surface thereof from a substantially vertical plane to a substantially horizontal plane solely by its rotation about said axis, said portion of said surface being adapted to receive slices as they are formed by said knife and having suction operating means for holding the slices on said portion while the slices are transferred from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal plane, and for releasing the slices after they have been transferred to a substantially horizontal plane.

20. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, having its cutting plane extending generally upward, and a conical, suction-operated transfer device rotatable on an axis inclined at a substantial angle to the vertical for transferring slices as they are formed by said knife to a support and for turning slices through a substantial angle to the cutting plane of said knife before releasing said slices so that said slices are extending generally in a horizontal direction when they are deposited on said support.

21. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife arranged in a substantially vertical plane, and a conical, suction-operated transfer device rotatable on an axis inclined at a substantial angle to the vertical for transferring slices as they are cut by said knife to a substantially horizontal support and for turning the slices through a substantial angle to the vertical before said slices are deposited on said support.

22. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, ofa substance support, means for moving said knife and support relative to each other, a slice receiver spaced from the cutting plane of said knife, a guard interposed between said slice receiver and said cutting plane of said knife and spaced from the cutting plane of said knife, a conical slice receiving transfer device mounted between the cutting plane of said knife and said guard and having a slice receiving surface thereon adapted and gear connection with said support so that as said support is moved relative to said knife, said slice transfer device will be rotated to bring said slice receiving surface from a position adjacent the cutting plane of said knife to a position above said slice receiver.

24. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a suction transfer device for transferring slices from the cutting plane of said knife to a slice receiving surface, a mounting for said slice receiver comprising a spindle having an opening therein, a bearing in which said spindle is rotatably mounted, an inlet opening in said bearing, an outlet opening in said bear ing, an opening in said spindle adapted to communicate with said inlet and outlet openings at different positions of rotation of said spindle within said bearing, suction producing means communicating with said outlet opening, said inlet opening communicating with the surrounding atmosphere to admit air to said opening in said spindle when said opening in said spindle and said inlet opening communicate with each other, a suction chamber in said transfer device communicating with said opening in said spindle, and means for rotating said spindle to bring said opening in said spindle alternately into communication with said outlet and inlet openings so that air may be exhausted from said chamber by said suction producing means and subsequently thereto have the air admitted to said chamber substantially instantaneously.

25. In a suction transfer device, the combination with superimposed substantially conical members having spaces therebetween, of a supporting member carrying said superimposed conical members and closing the space between said conical members, the rest of the space between said conical members being closed by the meeting edges thereof being sealed together, one of said conical members having openings therein communicating with said space and the slice receiving surface of said transfer device, said supporting member having a plurality of openings communicating with a common opening in said supporting member and with the space between said conical members, a spindle upon which said supporting member is mounted having an opening communicating with said common opening, a bearing for said spindle, and means for alternately exhausting the air from the space between said conical members and for introducing air into said space as said transfer device is rotated in its bearing.

JETZE VAN HOORN. 

